Birthing          

by Mark Unbehagen

 

How does one birth peace. . .

           in a world that seems to prefer the profits of war?

 

How can one birth hope. . .

           in a time when devastation is born of poverty and pandemic?

 

How does one birth love. . .

           in a world whose heart is captive to fear?

 

How can one birth joy. . .

           How can one birth joy?

 

The plastic manger scene on the front lawn

           just doesn't do it!

 

Birthing is so much more!

 

It is, and requires. . .

           radical intimacy,

           prolonged patience,

           the coming together of pain and ecstasy,

           the joining of our deepest hopes and fears.

 

Face it,

           birthing is a messy business.

 

And yet this process occurs every moment of our lives:

           as our bodies birth cell upon cell,

           as our minds birth ideas and dreams into the world,

           as our spirits birth. . .

 

           in the midst of labor and pain. . .

 

                      as our spirits birth.. JOY!

 

Mark Unbehagen may be reached by email at mhagen@ev1.net.